Wasteful Offaly pay the price for missed chances as Wexford Schools progress
Offaly Schools exit Leinster championship at semi-final stage
Leinster PPS Senior Hurling ‘A’ Group Team Semi Final
Offaly Schools 0-16
OFFALY Schools paid the price for a series of missed chances as they made their exit from the Leinster Post Primary Schools Group Team section at the semi-final stage when losing to Wexford Schools by eight points at Grant Heating St Brendan's Park, Birr on Saturday.
A total of 16 wides along with a series of missed goal chances proved very costly as Wexford Schools made the most of their chances and advvanced to the group stage final where they will meet either Meath Schools or Dublin North.
Over the hour Wexford Schools were the better team but Offaly Schools certainly had their chances and had they availed of their opportunities, it wouldn't have taken much to have changed the course of the game.
The sides were level three times in the early minutes before Wexford struck for their first goal in the 11th minute. Offaly responded well to that score with three points to regain the lead and the sides were level a couple of more times before half time, when Wexford Schools led by one, 1-7 to 0-9.
Offaly levelled for the seventh and final time at the start of the second half but Wexford scored the next 1-2 to take a strong hold on the game. Offaly cut the lead back to two points 10 minutes into the half and there were still only three points in it going into the final 10 minutes but Wexford outscored Offaly by 1-4 to 0-2 over the remaining minutes to progress to the group final.
Offaly will be disappointed with their loss. They were without a number of players owing to next weekend's Offaly Minor Hurling Final replay between Kilcormac/Killoughey and Ferbane/Belmont, but they still had enough chances to have swung the game in their favour.
Twelve of their wides came in the first half when they had the chance to build a lead. Those wides included five frees which were within scoreable range. They also spurned a couple of great goal chances. The best of those came after 21 minutes when Kevin Carey did very well to intercept Aidan Bowe's puck out but Bowe redeemed himself with a good save from Carey's goal effort and when the ball ran loose Edward Carty blazed the rebound wide. Bowe had denied Kevin Carey earlier as well with a fine save.
While the number of wides reduced in the second half, Offaly missed further goal chances. Edward Carty's first time pull was well saved by Aidan Bowe, Harry O'Sullivan drove wide after a good move and Kevin Carey also shot wide after Tiernan Fay's effort had been saved.
Even if a couple of those chances had been taken it could have been enough to turn the game in favour of the home side. They hung in there until the final 10 minutes so the game was there for the taking. The Offaly players took the wrong options on other occasions and good chances went abegging.
Wexford defended strongly throughout and their team work was very good. They moved the ball well up the field and their forwards showed greater sharpness than Offaly. They too missed some chances but they were able to create more openings and they took their scores well.
Aidan Bowe made some fine saves for Wexford, Paddy O'Neill, Oisin Ryan and Ryan Walsh defended very strongly. Tomas Fenlon had a fine game in the middle of the field and Bobby Murray, Eoghan Whelan and Conor Kehoe were lively in attack.
Aodhan Carroll made some important stops in the Offaly goals, Darragh Carty, Sean Walshe and James Carroll worked hard throughout in defence. Jack Collins put in a strong effort at midfield and while the attack struggled at times, Keith O'Rourke and Kevin Carey had some good moments.
The game had a lively start. Bobby Murray pointed for Wexford with Keith O'Rourke equalising in the first minute. Tomas Fenlon and Sam Sheehan quickly added Wexford points but Keith |O'Rourke and Sean Walshe levelled to make it 0-3 each in less than four minutes.
Bobby Murray restored the Wexford lead but Fiachra Carroll levelled and Kevin Carey then put Offaly in front for the first time after nine minutes. However a minute later Wexford had their first goal. Eoghan Carroll arrowed a 65m free low into the goalmouth where Conor Kehoe won it and fired to the net.
Offaly's response was very good. Fiachra Carroll and Edward Carty brought the sides level and they had a goal chance when Edward Carty returned a pass to Kevin Carey but his doubled effort was saved by Aidan Bowe. Kevin Carey did put Offaly back in front before Eoghan Whelan pointed a free and a '65' for Wexford, the latter after a good save from Aodhan Carroll.
Offaly then had that great goal chance after Kevin Carey's interception, but his effort was saved and Edward Carty sent the rebound wide. Jack Dunican did bring the sides level but Offaly were missing frees at this stage and after another good block by Aodhan Carroll, Eoghan Whelan pointed a '65' to give Wexford a 1-7 to 0-9 half time lead.
Jack Collins levelled from a free after half time but Bobby Murray put Wexford back in front. And almost immediately he was back again when he rounded his man and shot to the far corner of the net. Ryan Walsh added another long range point and Wexford were five up. Edward Carty pointed a free, Callum Connolly sent over another and Jack Collins added another free and Offaly were back within two points. Eoghan Whelan replied with two frees but Campbell Naughton kept Offaly in touch with another point.
Then with 10 minutes left Eoghan Whelan finished low to the Offaly net and the gap was out to six points. Jack Collins pointed another free but Sam Sheehan, Bobby Murray and Eoghan Whelan (free) added further Wexford points. Darragh Stewart worked his way through and flicked over another point when there was a chance of a goal and Kevin Whelan added a final point for Wexford to give them an eight point winning margin.
MATCH ANALYSIS
THE TEAMS
WEXFORD SCHOOLS: Aidan Bowe; Mylo Perry, Paddy O'Neill, Enda Byrne; Oisin Ryan, Ryan Walsh, Cormac Doyle; Sam Sheehan, Tomas Fenlon; Bobby Murray, Faolan Corbett, Liam Brennan; Eoghan Whelan, Conor Kehoe, Kevin Whelan. Subs. Dylan Moran (for Mylo Perry, 41 mins), Darragh Kavanagh (for Faolan Corbett, 50 mins), Oisin Byrne (for Liam Brennan, 53 mins).
OFFALY SCHOOLS: Aodhan Carroll (Cistercian College); Sean Finlay (Colaiste Choilm), Barry Bennett (St Brendan's CS, Birr), Darragh Carty (St Brendan's); Sean Walshe (St Brendan's), Oisin Carroll (Cistercian College), James Dooley (Colaiste Naomh Cormac); Jack Collins (St Brendan's), Fiachra Carroll (Colaiste Naomh Cormac); James Carroll (St Brendan's), Callum Connolly (St Brendan's), Jack Dunican (Colaiste Naomh Cormac); Eddie Carty (St Brendan's), Keith O'Rourke (Colaiste Choilm), Kevin Carey (St Brendan's). Subs. Harry O'Sullivan (St Brendan's) (for James Carroll, half time), Campbell Naughton (St Brendan's) (for Jack Dunican, 35 mins), Darragh Stewart (Colaiste Choilm) (for Edward Carty, 48 mins), Tiernan Fay (Cistercian College) (for Callum Connolly, 54 mins).
REFEREE: Ronan Devaney (Laois)
MAN OF THE MATCH
There were good performances on both sides but I've gone with Wexford's Bobby Murray. He made an impact from the start with a point after 30 seconds and his strong running caused problems for Offaly. He finished with 1-4 from play and had a big impact on the game.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
Wexford's second goal early in the second half was a dagger in the heart of Offaly. Offaly had just levvelled on the resumption but Bobby Murray quickly struck with a goal and a point after that and Offaly were always chasing the game after that.
REFEREE WATCH
Ronan Devaney did a good job throughout. He penalised a number of thrown passes and he was on top of things throughout. There were no real contentious issues and he handled everything well.
WHAT’S NEXT
It's the end of the road for Offaly Schools and the players will go back to play with their individual schools. Wexford advance to the Group Final against Meath or Dublin North.
VENUE WATCH
Grant Heating St Brendan's Park was in great condition for the game. In the middle of November it is great to see a pitch in such good condition. All the usual arrangements were in place for the game. The Birr flag was at half mast and a minute's silence was observed beforehand in memory of former Birr player and Club Chairman Mick Spain.
STATISTICS
Wides; Wexford Schools 11 (6 in first half) Offaly Schools 16 (12 in first half)
Yellow Cards: None
Black Cards: None
Red Cards: None
THE SCORERS
Wexford Schools; Eoghan Whelan (1-6, 0-4 frees, 0-2 '65s'), Bobby Murray (1-4), Conor Kehoe (1-0), Sam Sheehan (0-2), Tomas Fenlon, Ryan Walsh, Kevin Whelan (0-1 each).
Offaly Schools; Jack Collins (0-3, frees), Keith O'Rourke, Fiachra Carroll, Kevin Carey, Edward Carty (one free) (0-2 each), Sean Walshe, Jack Dunican, Callum Connolly, Campbell Naughton, Darragh Stewart (0-1 each).